Illuminated display sign for windows



Feb. .26, 1957 G. c. JACOBS ILLUMINATED DISPLAY SIGN FOR WINDOWS 2Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Aug. 19, 1954 i| all 1in@ il I? V EN TOR. BY

G- C. JACOBS ILLUMINATED DISPLAY SIGN FOR WINDOWS F eb. 2.6, 1957 2Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 19, 1954 Y NVENTOR.

,t/1w C www@ #77m y ATTORNEY/ United States Patent ILLUMINATED DISPLAYSIGN FOR WINDOWS Gilbert C. Jacobs, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor toEverbrite Electric Signs, Inc., Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation ofWisconsin Application August 19, 1954, Serial No. 450,865

2 Claims. (Cl. 40-132) This invention relates to improvements inilluminated display signs for windows.

It is common practice to provide illuminated display or advertisingsigns adapted to be mounted against the inner faces of store and shopwindows. The usual mounting requires the illuminated sign to be dependedfrom the ceiling relatively close thereto, with the front display panelof the sign in close adjacency to the inner face of the window pane andthis presents a problem in respect to access to the interior of the signfor servicing, repairs and replacements, unless the entire sign isremoved from its mounting. Service openings in the ends or top of thesign are not practical because of t he possible proximity of the sign,as mounted, to the ceiling and to the structure walls adjacent the endsof the sign.

With the above in mind it is a primary object of the present inventionto overcome the diilculties mentioned in connection with illuminateddisplay signs for store windows by providing an illuminated display signof the character described in which the front display panel lof the signnormally forms an acute angle with the plane of the window pane and ismounted in the sign frame for substantial swinging movement to and fromthe window pane to provide a bottom opening which affords substantialand convenient access to the interior of the sign for servicing.

A further object of the invention is to provide in an illuminatedelectric display sign for store windows a swingably mounted plasticfront panel or face hinged to the frame along its upper margin in anovel manner which eliminates the necessity of holes or fittings in theplastic panel.

A further object of the invention is to provide, in associtation withthe inner surface of a store window pane, a display sign including aframe in juxtaposition to the inner face of the window pane but having afront display panel normally inwardly downwardly inclined but swingableinto a reverse position of inclination to readily provide an accessiblebottom service lopening into the `interior of the sign frame.

A further object of the invention is to provide a store window sign ofthe character described having a novel mounting for the sign ballast andelectrical illuminating means, with a removable back cover plate toafford ready access to the ballast.

A further object of the invention is to provide an illuminated displaysign for windows which is of very simple construction, is convenient toinstall and service, which is neat, attractive and unique in appearance,and which i-s well adapted for the purposes described.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists of theimproved illuminated display sign for windows, and its parts andcombinations as set forth in the claims, and all equivalents thereof.

In the accompanying drawings in which the same reference charactersindicate the same parts in all of the views:

Fig. l is a fragmentary front View of a store window showing theimproved illuminated display sign mounted adjacent the inner surface ofthe window pane, a portion Iof the front panel of the sign being brokenaway to show the interior of the sign frame;

Fig. 2 is `a vertical sectional view taken on line 2 2 of Fig. l and ona slightly larger scale;

Fig. 3 is a top view of the improved sign;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary perspective View of the sign, portions beingbroken away and shown in section; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary detail view taken on line 5*5 of Fig.2 with other portions broken away and in section.

The improved illuminated display sign, indicated generally by thenumeral 8, is adapted to be mounted adjacent the inner face of the glasspane of a store or shop display window. The space rearwardly of theglass pane of a store display window is customarily an alcove closed inthe front by the window pane 9 with vertical end walls or partitions llland a ceiling 30. The illuminated display sign may be depended from thealcove ceiling 30 by any suitable means, as shown in Fig. 2, and`ordinarily may be relatively close to t-he ceiling and adjacent theinner face of the window pane 9. Due to the restrictive surroundings,the ends and top of the illuminated display sign, mounted as describedin a store window, are inaccessible, but in display signs of the typeunder consideration it is necessary to provide convenient means ofobtaining access to the interior of the sign for replacement of lightsand other parts, servicing and cleaning. The present invention providesa structure in which a controlled service opening in the bott-om of thesign frame is arranged without complication of parts.

The illuminated sign includes an open boxdike frame of rectangular formhaving 4a top lil- 112 vertical ends 12 and a back 13. The latter,substantially midway between its upper and lower margins is dishedinwardly to provide an angularly shaped pan 14 within the frame andwithin which is housed conventional ballasts 15 and on the exposed wallsof which may be mounted supports for elongated suitably wiredilluminating tubes or lamps 16. Removably bolted to the rear 13 of theframe so as to cover the open face of the pan 14 is a cover 17 which,when removed, permits ready access to the light ballasts 1S from therear or back of the sign frame. Cooperating with the member 11 informing the top of the frame is a complementary top portion 11 whichunderlaps the inner margin of the top portion 1l and is formed along itsforward margin with a downwardly angled hook-like tongue 18, the lappingportions of the complementary top members 11 and il being held togetherby bolts 19. The front peripheral portions of the top member 11 and theends i2 are outwardly flanged as at 20 and the vertical flanged portionsof the ends carry rubber bumpers 2i to space and cushion the frameagainst the inner face of the window pane 9.

The front and bottom of the sign frame is adapted to be normally closedby a translucent display panel, preferably formed from a sheet ofplastic material in the general form of an L with a front face 22 and anintegral bottom 23, the latter at its inner free extremity beingdownwardly flanged as at 23. The front or face portion 22 forms anobtuse angie with the bottom portion 23 of the translucent display paneland in the normal closed position `of said panel within the frame theface portion 22 of the panel inclines downwardly rearwardly with respectto the pane of the window Iand is offset inwardly from the front marginsof the frame.

It is normally difficult to apply hardware to plastic material and it isnot desirable to mar or weaken such plastic material by the provision ofbolt holes. Therefore, to eliminate the necessity of hardware or hingesapplied to the upper margin of the panel 22 its upper edge is formedwith a hooking ange 24 which hingedly engages the complementary hookingflange 1.8 on the top member 11' under an elongated detent 25 in the top11 which will prevent undesirable disengagement of the hooking flanges18 and 24.

A plate Z6 is secured to the lower exterior portion of the back wall 13of the frame and the same is provided with. a forwardly directedupwardly opening hooking flange 26 to lockingly engage the downturnedextremity 23' of the bottom portion of the panel, as shown in Figs. 2, 4and 5. By removal of the bolts 27, or other securing means, the plate 26may be lowered or removed to disengage its portion 26 from the liange 23of the panel, in which event the panel may be hingedly swung from itsnormally closed position illustrated to the broken line position of Fig.2 wherein. the lower margin of the face portion 22 of the panel abutsthe inner surface of the glass pane 9 which limits the forward swingingmovement of the panel. However, due to the mounting of the panel withinthe frame and the inclination of the face portion thereof, said panelmay be swung through a substantial angle to open position, thusproviding a service opening in the bottom of the sign frame wherebyaccess tothe interior of the frame is conveniently accomplished withoutthe necessity of removing the sign from its mounting or in any mannerdisassembling substantial structural portions of the sign frame.

ln service, the improved illuminated display sign may be mounted withina window of a store or shop in the manner shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Thefront face 22 of the panel may, of course, carry suitable advertisingindicia or pictorial representations which are displayed through thestore window when the interior of the sign frame is illuminated by thetubes or lamps 16.

The improved sign comprises a minimum of easily assembled parts andpresents a neat, attractive and unique appearance. Moreover the interiorof the sign is cornpletely accessible for servicing through the simpleexpedient of hingedly swinging the panel toward the window pane which ispermitted by the construction and mounting of the panel and its inclinedface. The integral housing for the ballasts is simple and ready accessto the ballastsl is afforded by the removable rear plate 17. Theimproved illuminated display sign for windows is well adapted for thepurposes described.

What is claimed as the invention is:

1, An illuminatable display sign for mounting adjacent the inner face ofa window pane, comprising a box-like frame with illuminating meanstherewithin, the display sign also having a display panel to be visiblethroughout an adjacent window pane, said panel including a at faceforming the front of the frame and an integralrearward extension formingthe bottom of the frame, said panel normally completely closing thefront and bottom of the frame, complementary hook means formed on tncforward top portion of the [rame and the upper margin of the panel tohingedlyl mount the panel on the frame ina manner soothat thc tace ofthe panel, iny its normal closed position relative to the frame, forms adownwardly spreading` acute angle with the face of an adjacent windowpane, and. means releasably securing the lower portion of the panel tothe frame, the panel, whenV said securing means is released, beinghingedly movable to bring its lower margin into substantial engagementwith an. adjacent window pane with the panel extension being swung freeof portions of the bottom of the trame to thereby provide a bottomservice opening into the interior of the illuminated display sign frame.

2. An illuminatable display sign for mounting adjacent the inner face ofa window parte7 comprising a boxlike frame open at its front and bottomportions, the display sign also having an L-shaped display panel to bevisible through the window pane and normally cornpletely closing thefront and bottom portions of the frame, means hingedly mounting theupper margin of the panel to the frame in a manner so that the face ofthe panel is downwardly inwardly inclined relatiye to the pane,V thepanel being hingedly movable toward an adjacent window pane to swing thelower portion of the panel to an inclined position free of the bottom ofthe frame and thus provide a bottom service opening into the interior ofthe illuminated display sign frame, a portion of the rear of the framebeing dished into the frame to provide aballast housing, electricalilluminating means within the frame adjacent said ballast housing, and aremovable plate on the rear of the frame over said ballast housing.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,668,799 Bergan May 8, 1928 1,812,919 Balder July 7, 1931 2,336,016layne et al. Dec. 7, 1943 2,465,034 Peters Mar. 22, 1949 2,507,350Russell May 9, 1950 2,588,545 Lawrence Mar. 11, 1952 2,626,473Howenstine I an. 27, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS4 287,571 Great Britain Jan.3l, 1929 708,302 Great Britain May 5, 1954

